Device for transporting elongated workpieces

ABSTRACT

Elongated workpieces are transported crosswise to the direction in which they leave a cutter, by means rolls having inclined axes to both, that direction and the crosswise direction, and they define a plane inclined to the vertical.

i lii icny ell [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS [72} lnvento:Kalahari-0i Tuszliy, Osnabruecla; Tiiwdlm' m gg y Suflhausen, hgth ofGfinnany 1,936,485 Ill/1933 Schreck...... 3,459,082

Gimlmlifi- 8/1969 Smith et aL. nnngslmm Almeingeseilmrimfl, Hannover,53,506 7/1909 Vahrenwalder Strasse, Germany Jim. 22, 197i?) {73]Assignee: Kabul-mill lvlleixilllwnrlie Edwards X Primary Examiner-lamesM. Meister Attorney-Smyth, Boston 6c Pavia [22] Filed:

[21] App]. No.:

[52] U5.Cl......................................i 3/ll12.,33/98, 83/156,El at d w rkpiec s are transported crosswise to the direction in whichthey leave a cutter, by means rolls having 323d 211/M inclined axes toboth, that direction and the crosswise 4 (Illnims, 3 Drawing FiguresDEVICE FOR TRANSPORTING ELONGATED WORKPIECES The present inventionrelates to a device for transporting elongated, preferably profiledworkpieces as they appear or arrive, for example, in a particularlocation in a production line, such as the output side of a cuttingdevice. Equipment for the transportation of elongated pieces is knowngenerally which includes parallel bars, rails or transoms for supportingrolls parallel to each other. In order to change the direction ofpropagation of arriving workpieces, the transoms are curved so that therolls are not parallel to each other, but define an angle between them.The overall direction of motion of the workpieces, therefore, followsthe direction of extension of the transoms supporting the rolls, i.e.,is still transverse to the axes of the rolls and more or less colinearwith the direction of rolling. It is, therefore, not possible with thisequipment to transport the pieces transversely to the extension of thetransoms whether straight or curved.

This is particularly of importance in those cases where there is verylittle space in continued direction of the longitudinal direction of theelongated workpieces at the location of arrival. For example, particularelongated and profiled workpieces are cut, by means of a cutting devicefrom very long elongated pieces or a continuous string; there may be notmuch space behind the cutter particularly if the length of the pieces socut is still rather large.

The present invention has its principle task to obviate thisdisadvantage and is concerned, for example, with construction of thepropagation path for elongated workpieces as they leave for example acutter. In accordance with the present invention it is suggested that aplurality of straight transoms are disposed parallel to each other andmore or less parallel to the direction of arrival of the elongatedworkpieces at a particular location. Rolls are supported by thesetransoms and they are also parallel to each other, but the axes of therolls form an angle with the direction of extension of the transomswhich is smaller than 90. This way it is possible to actually transportthe elongated pieces transversely to the direction of extension of thetransoms. This is of particular advantage if space limitations require,for example, cut workpieces to be moved transverse to the direction inwhich they propagate through the cutter. In order to have the elongatedpieces roll still better transversely to the direction of the transoms,it is of advantage, to provide a tray with waxened bottom into which thepieces drop when leaving the cutter, and to have the plane as defined bythe rolls somewhat inclined relative to the waxened bottom.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing outand distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as theinvention, it is believed that the invention, the objects and featuresof the invention and further objects, features and advantages thereofwill be better understood from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates somewhat schematically a perspective view from thetop of equipment in accordance with the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is partially a side view but taken in a sectional plan 2-2 inFIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a straight-down top view of a portion of theequipment shown in FIG. 1.

Proceeding now to the detailed description of the drawings, in FIG. 1thereof, there is illustrated a string of material such as tubularstring or an elongated rod which traverses a cutting equipment 2 inwhich it is cut to elongated pieces 1, preferably of similar lengths. Arepresentative example for such a cutting equipment is disclosed, forexample, in copending application Ser. No. 5669, filed Jan. 26, 1970.The cutter outlet side is the location of arrival of these elongatedpieces 1 within the production line involving them, their initialmanufacturing and/or subsequent processing.

The cut elongated pieces 1, when leaving the cutter, actually rightafter cutting, drop onto a slide or tray 3. As the trays bottom isinclined to the vertical, the ieces I slide down and onto rolls 4. Theserolls are parallel 0 each other,

i.e., they have parallel axes and provide colinear conveyor motion totransport the cut pieces further. There are provided two straight railsor transoms 5 for journaling the rolls 4. The straight transoms extend,at least essentially, parallel to the direction in which the cut pieces1 leave cutter 2. However, the transoms 5 form an angle with the axes ofrolls 4 which is smaller than The angular relationship can best be seenfrom FIG. 3. The rolls, thus, provide conveyor motion which is at anangle a relative to the direction in which a piece I left the cutter.Accordingly, the cut pieces l are transported transversely to thetransoms 5 and, particularly, at an angle equal to 90a. Accordingly, theworkpieces I assume directly a rightangle component of motion relativeto the direction in which they fell into tray 3 after leaving cutter 2.Before a cut piece 1 reaches a stop 6 it drops upon a crosswise movingconveyor element 7 and is transported further to a location in which itmay additionally be subject to working.

The equipment includes additionally a nozzle 8 blowing an airjet againstthe cut pieces I, for providing thereto additional motion transverse tothe extension of the transoms, so that they slide better on the waxenedbottom of tray 3. The rolls 4 are illustrated in FIG. 2 to define aplane which is parallel to the waxened bottom of the tray but, actually,there should be provided a slight inclination to that bottom toadditionally support the cross motion.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above but allchanges and modifications thereof not constituting departures from thespirit and scope of the invention are intended to be included.

We claim:

1. In a production line for elongated workpieces, there being a locationof arrival of an elongated workpiece from which individual workpiecesare cut in sequence and to be transported further in a directiontransverse to the direction of propagation at the point of arrival, thecombination comprising:

a plurality of straight transoms, disposed in relation to and below thelocation of arrival and in parallel relation to each other and extendingat least essentially in parallel direction to the direction of motion ofthe pieces at such location of arrival;

a plurality of rolls disposed for joumaling support by the transomsabout parallel axes, inclined at an angle of less than 90 relative tothe direction of extension of the transoms and disposed below thelocation of arrival so that an elongated piece falls onto the rolls, therolls imparting upon the pieces conveyor motion that has a component insaid transverse direction so that the pieces roll laterally off therolls; and

means disposed next to the rolls in said transverse direction to conveythe elongated pieces as rolled by the rolls off the rolls, further insaid transverse direction, that is also transverse to said transoms.

2. In the combination as set forth in claim I, there being a receivingtray behind the location of arrival having an inclined bottom, the rollsdefining a plane, inclined to the vertical for the workpieces to rolloff the rolls, laterally in relation to the transoms.

3. In the combination as in claim 2,. the plane being slightly inclinedrelative to the bottom.

4. In a production line as in claim 1, there being means for cuttingelongated workpieces with particular cross-sectional profile fromelongated workpieces of larger length, the cutting means defining thelocation of arrival as its outlet, from which the elongated pieces ascut drop into an inclined elongated tray, the rolls disposed fortransporting the unit pieces transversely to their direction ofextension.

I k i t

1. In a production line for elongated workpieces, there being a locationof arrival of an elongated workpiece from which individual workpiecesare cut in sequence and to be transported further in a directiontransverse to the direction of propagation at the point of arrival, thecombination comprising: a plurality of straight transoms, disposed inrelation to and below the location of arrival and in parallel relationto each other and extending at least essentially in parallel directionto the direction of motion of the pieces at such location of arrival; aplurality of rolls disposed for journaling support by the transoms aboutparallel axes, inclined at an angle of less than 90* relative to thedirection of extension of the transoms and disposed below the locationof arrival so that an elongated piece falls onto the rolls, the rollsimparting upon the pieces conveyor motion that has a component in saidtransverse direction so that the pieces roll laterally off the rolls;and means disPosed next to the rolls in said transverse direction toconvey the elongated pieces as rolled by the rolls off the rolls furtherin said transverse direction, that is also transverse to said transoms.2. In the combination as set forth in claim 1, there being a receivingtray behind the location of arrival having an inclined bottom, the rollsdefining a plane, inclined to the vertical for the workpieces to rolloff the rolls, laterally in relation to the transoms.
 3. In thecombination as in claim 2, the plane being slightly inclined relative tothe bottom.
 4. In a production line as in claim 1, there being means forcutting elongated workpieces with particular cross-sectional profilefrom elongated workpieces of larger length, the cutting means definingthe location of arrival as its outlet, from which the elongated piecesas cut drop into an inclined elongated tray, the rolls disposed fortransporting the unit pieces transversely to their direction ofextension.